Thorp Courier

On Tuesday, December 28, Ella Welgos of Thorp became a member of one of the world’s most exclusive clubs, the Centenarian Club. She joined the .02 percent of Americans who live 100 or more years. Ella says her secret to longevity is drinking Ginseng tea and lots of stretching and walking. When asked what she thought the greatest invention was in her lifetime she answered electric lights in every room and we didn’t have to carry a lantern from room to room anymore. Her one piece of advice to young folks is to listen to their parents, as they have been on this earth longer than you have and they care about you. Her greatest advice is set goals, work hard and don’t give up. Happy Birthday Ella from all in Stanley who know you.. +++ The Thorp Angel Tree Project, hosted again this year by the Thorp American Legion, with Veterans and Auxiliary Ladies helping to collect and sort gifts, served 17 families and gifted 47 angels.

Courier Sentinel

The Cadott Athletic Association received its first donation from the Cadott DJ’s Mart Spirit Pump on December 15. The donation received covered the time period June through November and amounted to $1,666.40. If patrons use the Spirit Pump, the Cadott Athletic Association receives .02 cents for each gallon purchased. No decision has been made as to how the funds will be used. +++ Many plans are in the works to improve the Cornell Mill Yard Park area, and those plans may come to fruition sooner than expected, if funding is received through the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus. The Cornell City Council hired Cedar Corp for $6,000 to apply for the funds. The grant is for 100 percent funding, with no match required, allowing the city to request up to $600,000. ++ Those looking to keep up on what is happening at the county level, now have another way to do so. Chippewa County is set to transition to live streaming county board meetings on You Tube in 2022. +++ Strong winds passed trough Cadott on December 15, necessitating that all 63 flags at the Veterans Tribute be replaced. American Legion and VFW members came together to change the flags and to do other work to restore the tribute to its full glory.

Bloomer Advance

On December 16, the City of Bloomer learned from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, that they are receiving $22.45 million in loans and $5.3 million in grants, to assist with the replacement of all lead jointed mains throughout the city, which consists of 50 blocks. Due to the nature of the project, the city council elected to move forward with also completing sanitary and storm sewer replacements. Bloomer has been under DNR orders to replace all lead jointed water mains by the end of the year 2023. +++ The Bloomer City Council got an earful of complaints at their December 15 meeting. Among the complaints were issues relating to sidewalks and trucks using roadways in residential areas populated with children playing along streets. One visitor complained that residents need to pay for sidewalk replacement where they already exist, while in newer sections of the city sidewalks are not required.

O-W Enterprise With a $160,618 shortfall in income, the Owen-Withee Sewer Commission has approved a 9% increase in rates, along with $1.20 per thousand gallons user fee. +++ The solar array donated to the Owen-Withee School District by Carl Coulliard and the foundation he administers, is nearing completion. The line connecting the solar power to the school has also been installed.

The Tribune-Phonograph The neighborhood across the street from Packaging Corpo- ration of America in Colby, became a debris field the night of Wednesday, December 15, as winds from a supercharged storm system sent pieces of the company’s tin roof into several nearby properties and the city's softball fields. Rooftop air condition ers and ventilation units were also torn down or damaged by the over 70 mph winds hitting the area. +++ According to a plan devised by board chairman Larry Oehmichen, the Abbotsford-Colby- Dorchester areas Central Fire and EMS District is expecting to receive as much as $60,000 in federal COVID relief money, from the four townships in the district. The money received by the townships as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, will be used to pay for EMT training and wages and personal protective equipment. The APRA money turned over to the District will be credited to the townships dollar for dollar for a discount on their annual fire protection dues to the district.